3. It's light on history and heavy on action, suspense, and intrigue. (story from treasurelore.com). The story goes that Lafitte and his men used an old barn on LeBleau Plantation as a gathering location and perhaps buried treasure here. Jose Gaspar: Myth or Pirate? Quiz | People | 10 Questions - Fun Trivia Cleaning the dreaded attic turned up a darling wedding photo of the Lopezes grandparents, but it also uncovered some interesting but creepy finds. Bald Point is another hotspot but for rumors of pirate treasure. May 4, 1904Gasparilla Pirate Festival / First event date. Gasparilla seized their ship, as well as their 11 dowries, but fell madly in love with the Spanish princess. One such account concerns Maria Louise, a lovely Spanish princess, who was returning to Spain after a journey to Mexico with 11 Mexican princesses who were to be educated and married in Spain. So, we stole Jose Gaspar. Marias brother Mike believes the couple in the photo may be their great grandparents, Eve and Ernesto Lopez. Decipher the code, and you might find some of Gaspars lost treasure but as fast as Florida changes, dont be surprised if you find a new shopping mall sitting square on top of it. There's really no way to know which is the case," Maria wrote, in an email to WTSP-TV. will support that mission. When he was wrongfully arrested, he hijacked a ship and fled, promising to seek revenge on his homeland. By booking through these links, the small commission we earn helps us bring you more Caribbean content so that you can save money and have a better island vacation. ", "Jose Gaspar, from my understanding, was a name that was made up by Ye Mystic Krewe, which they tied to Gasparilla, which was tied to the railroad pamphlet that you're talking about, which that is not real. JavaScript is disabled. In it, she introduced herself and wrote that her parents were. Instead, he pursued a merchant ship and insisted that it convey Batista and Ann Jeffries to England and that its captain marry them on board after they were out of sight of his ship, the Jose Gasparilla II. The most famous Florida pirate was Jos Gaspar, known by his nickname Gasparilla. Treasure Unknown is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Gaspar realized in this moment that he had found the treasure he was searching for. We've been chasing his treasures. When it comes to the legend of Jose Gaspar, Diff told us to "be cautious that the information you present as there are lots of versions of this story and everyone's version is 'true.' Sarasota's Michael Gattuso and members of his . How did the legend of Gaspar begin? Also check state and local regulations before you begin any activities such as digging or metal detecting. Pirate Blackbeard entered the history books in the early 1700s. Galleon of Gold. What year did Gasparilla start? Subsequent retellings of the Gaspar tale are based on this imaginative account, including the unintentional inclusion of Jos Gaspar in a 1923 book on genuine pirates, which has created ongoing debate regarding his historical veracity. When Maria and Mike were children, their grandfather would tell them stories about his father, Ernesto Lopez, finding Jose Gaspar's pirate treasure. His theft discovered, he deserted his wife. His work appears here every third Monday; the views expressed. Whether he was his cabin boy, like it states in the story, or maybe he might have been Gasparilla himself because of all the treasure maps that we have found. Jose Gaspar Treasure Co - Tripadvisor Fastened inside the box with copper wire is an old wedding photo, 18th century Spanish and Portuguese coins, a 1930s map of the Hillsborough River and a mummified hand wearing a ring. According to some versions of the story, Gaspar started as a troubled adolescent who kidnapped a little girl for ransom. Years ago I hunted the fabled Jose Gaspar treasure pirate who, as the story goes, was a pirate on the gulf coast and when attacked by a US Navy vessel, wrapped the anchor chain around him and jumped in while his crew escaped up Peace River with treasure to a property owner named Lady Boggess near an area called Lettuce Lake. You must log in or register to reply here. The parade that follows is one of the largest in the country, drawing hundreds of thousands of people to Tampa Bay. Hitting the scene in the early 1800s Billy Bowlegs Rogers was a pirate to be reckoned with. The story states that Rogers discovered these lost tunnels and used them to store his treasure. No contemporaneous mention of his existence or achievements has ever been found in Spanish or American ship logs, court documents, newspapers, or other archives, and no tangible items associated with Gaspar have been unearthed in the area where he is said to have operated. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); If anybody wants to start a treasure seach team, WTF Florida? ", According to the railroad brochure, the "narrative was compiled by the writer from incidents told by John Gomez, better known as Panther Key John, a brother-in-law of Gasparilla and a member of his crew, who died at the age of 120 years, at Panther Key, Florida, 12 miles below Marco, in the year 1900; also from records left by John Gomez, Jr., the cabin-boy on Gasparilla's ship, who was kidnapped by Gasparilla and who witnessed the death of this pirate and all on board his vessel. Shopping, Gift & Specialty Shops. The city of Tampa hosts a Gasparilla Day each year. During the final combat, the majority of Gasparillas crew was killed, but there were 12 survivors 11 men and a cabin boy called Juan Gomez. Pirate Treasure on Goodland in Southwest Florida - LITTLE BAR Restaurant What Became of Anne Bonny, Irish Pirate of the Caribbean? Paluska and ABC Action News photojournalist Reed Moeller took a 20-minute ferry ride from Pine Island to Useppa Island, the location where Gaspar is said to have beheaded a Spanish Princess. Supposedly this fort had hidden tunnels leading under the fort. He did what all retired people do in Florida he fell ill one day and died. It is said that Captain Kidd came ashore here. Show more. The ship contained $1,000,000 in assorted treasure, and should be there today. Lets do this. The San Jose galleon was believed to have been . "I'm considering it," he said with a big smile. Treasure hunter Erin Melcher. CBS affiliate WPEC-TV reported that 43-year-old treasure hunter Jonah Martinez located the coins using a . He stated that it was buried beside 2 wind damaged trees and a large rock (one would think that with treasure this valuable one would choose landmarks a little more cautiously, but I guess trees and a rock is all we have to go on here). Email him at [email protected]. He was said to have been extremely active for many years, attacking merchant ships and evading justice, and in this time he won himself a huge fortune. ", The story said Gaspar hid in the Charlotte Harbor area, and "while taking the census of 1900, two gentlemen stopped at Panther Key and spent the night with *John Gomez. History of Gasparilla: Jos Gaspar & his krewe. Since the 1870s, treasure hunters have been trying unsuccessfully to crack this code you see below: Some say its Spanish. He relocated to Galveston Island around 1817 where he set up a pirate empire. He met and married his wife in New York and had 2 daughters. It is said that he buried a multitude of treasure along the Pamlico Sound and on Bluff Point. Lacking experience in seamanship, he and his crew of escaped slaves limited their raids to smaller ships and coastal villages but managed to amass a large amount of treasure, which was hidden in several caches on the . Tampa family finds 'pirate treasure' in attic including treasure map Still, it was not very soon after that, that Tampa captured that myth," Kite-Powell said. was reading about Jose Gaspar aka Gasparilla Pirate and one story tells of his friend Roderigo Lopez wanting to leave the Pirate life and Gaspar helped him leave, so it seems Maria Lopez great great grandfather may have been Roderigo. The treasure: Slave-turned-pirate Henri Caesar stole a ship in Haiti to seek his fortune on the Spanish Main and Florida waters. The story was included in a brochure in 1900 for a hotel on Gasparilla Island, where the pirate supposedly stored his vast treasures in a hidden den that had never been found. Most confirm that the "Floridablanca" was the name of his pirate ship and the one that he served upon in the Navy. Josh joins marine archaeologists and treasure hunters working to crack the mysteries of the pirate's life so they can find the riches he left behind. Strap yourself in for a wild ride and buy this international bestselling book today! 2 chests are also rumored to be buried on Clarkes Island on the Connecticut River. The choice of the navy career wasn't courage and thirst for adventure on the part of Jose but an expediency of the moment. Josh Gates sets sail for Florida chasing the long-lost treasure of bloodthirsty pirate Jose Gaspar. Some records give him the honor of being what we would call an admiral. With the help of the Prime Minster she was able to convincingly spread this rumor leading to Gaspars impending arrest by the king. Louisiana makes sense because during most of his time here, he was considered a fugitive by the US. Canceled2021 Gasparilla Pirate Festival / Date "We go after Juan Gomez because everything, all the treasures and everything we've come through, is tied to him. A band of pirates in Wisconsin operated out of a cave on Hermit island. He remembers their grandfather telling stories when they were children of Ernesto finding the treasure of Tampa Bay pirate legend Jose Gaspar. A Treasured History: The Story of Gasparilla, Tampa's Most Prized His sister found a box in their grandfather's attic in Tampa, Fla., a few weeks ago while doing some spring cleaning. Though details about his early life, motivations, and piratical exploits differ in various tellings, they agree that the 'Last of the Buccaneers" was a remarkably active pirate who amassed a huge . This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Lafayette Street, which is now Kennedy Boulevard is also labeled on the map. Box allegedly containing Gaspars hand and related items Photo Credit. The family thinks the hand belongs to famous Tampa Bay pirate Jose Gaspar. USEPPA ISLAND, Fla. Most, if not all, historians agree the pirate named Jose Gaspar never existed. Gattuso leads a a small group called the The Treasure Hunters who spend their weekends hiking the wilderness near the Peace River in search of lost treasure believed to have been left behind by Jose Gaspar. The American Continents have a rich treasure history dating back to ancient civilizations of the Toltecs and Aztecs who understood the mining and smelting of gold and silver from which they made ornaments shields and household utensils. According to other versions of the narrative, Gaspar was a nobleman who rose through the ranks of the Spanish Royal Navy and became a councilor to King Charles III of Spain. We will discuss a few of them here. Bipin Dimri is a writer from India with an educational background in Management Studies. Canny readers will already recognize a certain romantic streak in these stories. Many ship captains and pirates alike came to Lafitte and could sign articles to become a part of his pirate fleet. To add more to the story, the treasure map contained the name of the infamous mythical pirate Gaspar. Peace River treasure hunters make cable TV debut in search of Flagler Beach, FL 32136. Before we get to the treasure hunt, let's touch on the historical background of Jose Gaspar and how a now infamous fictitious pirate became a Tampa legend. He weighed in on the treasure map as well and believes it was a blueprint for the area during the 1920s and 1930s, but nothing more. Legends tell how he amassed a huge fortune, and hid an enormous treasure before dying a hero facing the might of the US Navy. Captured ladies were not raped and murdered, but instead had the option of marrying one of his crew members or being transferred to Captiva Island in Florida. The race of the old buccaneer was nearly run, but all through that night, he told a story of piracy that could scarce be believed, yet it was a dying man that was clearing his soul before his Maker. And indeed there are serious problems with the stories of Gasparilla. He spent nearly 30 years plundering ships in and around the gulf coast. What you don't expect to find is treasure. He successfully captured a few ships during his years long voyage. These men witnessed the battle and when the pirate ship began to sink, they loaded this vast treasure onto small boats and escaped unnoticed to a place called Spanish Homestead around the Peace River. Treasure Hunters May Have Found Jos Gaspar's Pirate Vessel - YouTube Is There Any Pirate Treasure Left? - treasure unknown "We are not sure what we're going to do with it," said Lopez. Starting in 1911, though, the event's founders, Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla, switched . Jos Gaspar. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Gattuso leads a a small group called the The Treasure Hunters who spend their weekends hiking the wilderness near the Peace River in search of lost treasure believed to have been left behind by Jose Gaspar. This was around the 1870s, after the Civil War. The legend of pirate Jose Gaspar, or Gasparilla as he is sometimes known, is shrouded in mystery. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But Rodney Kite-Powell, a Tampa-Bay curator, doesn't believe that the legendary figure was even real. Gasparilla not only granted Lopez permission but also bestowed his blessing on his long-time friend, providing a ship and several men to accompany him back to Spain. jose gaspar, coins, and treasuremap found. This does not stop the legend of Gasparilla from living on in the Florida folklore; the story of his life is even retold in a hotel brochure at the site where supposedly his treasure was buried, The Huffington Post reported. Who created the man who is now a legend? He has taken his place in local folklore and culture and has an annual festival in his honor. ", The story of Gaspar begins in 1782; the brochure states, "he stood high in the graces of the Spanish Court, so high indeed that he niched the crown jewels. I love searching for all types of "treasures" with my family. Jos Gaspar, known by his nickname Gasparilla (supposedly lived c. 1756 - 1821), was a purported Spanish pirate, the "last of the Buccaneer s," who is claimed to have raided the west coast of Florida during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Do you think there's buried treasure out there? These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Since 1904, pirates have invaded the City of Tampa to kick off the Gasparilla Pirate Festival. The brochure relied heavily on the stories told by John Gomez. Jose Gaspar Treasure 6 Jewelry Gift Shops Bookstores $ "We went in looking for a lite shark tooth for our son. The team used metal detectors and shovels but didn't find anything. . Debbie gave us a great tip to hide the tooth in the sand and make our son think he found it. There is a new book out "Pirates of Southwest Florida, Fact and Legend" by James F. and Sarah Jane Kaserman that debunks some of the stories of Gasparilla. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Who was this figure, and what was he supposed to have done? The team, known as the "Temple Twelve," have been . "But, what we believe is that Juan Gomez had ties to him. So, a real figure or a tall tale told by Floridians? The Gasparilla Inn was a hotel on the island. He supposedly buried 3 chests under a palm tree somewhere in the vicinity. Gaspar caught wind of his coming doom, and escaped via ship to America. 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Florida's Pirate Jose Gaspar and his Treasure Story You must log in or register to reply here. 11 The Cuerdale Treasures- $2.6 Million. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Santa Rosa Island has been sort of a local hotspot for finding bags of gold and silver coins. When it comes to spring cleaning, its always nice to have a spare hand to help. The Story of Gasparilla by ABC Action News on Scribd. Many of the stories about Gasparilla were attributed to Juan Gomez. If you choose to embark on a hunt for any treasure do so at your own risk. Some historians say Caesar has between two-and-six million dollars of treasure stashed on Pine Island. Tampa family finds pirate treasure in grandpa's attic - USA TODAY Our Florida pirate "Jose Gaspar enters history's scene in Spain where he was born in the year 1756 and started adult life with a career in the Spanish Navy, serving aboard the warship Floridablanca. This activity is a great way to enjoy some peaceful quite time outdoors or can be a unique experience for 8 Super Fun Family Treasure Hunt Ideas: With Real Treasure.
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